Obstetrical forceps



Aug. 25, 1942. H. M. KIRSCHBAUM OBSTETRICAL FORCEP.S

F'il ed April 21 1941 INVENTOR HARRY M.KIRSCHBAUM W /Mw% TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 25, 1942 sTarss ME FFIQE 3 Claims.

The invention relates to obstetrical forceps and has for its object the obtaining of a construction which, while possessing a high degree of flexibiilty for manipulation, is ab the same time of simple and smooth contour.

It is a further object to obtain a construction which is free from lateral projections or obstructions.

Still further, it is an object 1:0 obtain a comstruction in which the handle is normally in symmetrical rigid alignment with the jaws or blades, but is capable of adjustment into an angular position so as to form, in effect, a crank, facilitating the rotation or other manipulation of the instrument.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in the oonstruction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the instrument, showing in full lines one of the jaws detached and in dotted lines this jaw in operative relation to the cooperating jaw and handle;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, viewed at right angles to Fig. 1, and partly in section;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified construction of detachable jaw 01' blade, viewed from the inner side thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2.

The jaws or blades A and A are of the usual semi-elliptical contour and normally are in symmetric relation 110 a handle B. This handle has the usual pul1 grip C at i1:s unter and, this also being normally symmetric With respect to the jaws. Intermediate the handle B and the jaws is a cylindrical socket member D which engages short shank members E and E secured to their respective jaws. These shank members are semicylindrical in crss seotion so a5 to fit within the Socket D adjacent to each other and to hold the jaws symmetrical with respect to the axis 015 this socket. One of the shanks E is permanently secured within the socket D, while the other shank E has a telescopic engagement With the socket which permits quickly attaching er detaching the same. When engaged with its Socket, the shank member E is automatically locked therein by a latch member F which is pivotally secured at G in a slot in the shank member E and is provided with a detent F for engaging a shouldered recess Hin the shank member E. A spring I yieldably presses the detent into engagement with the shoulder I-I, and a headed pin or button J extending outward through an aperoure latch When the shank E and its jaw member A are to be removed.

As has been stated, the handle B is normally symmetrically aligned with the jaw memberg A and A. It is however, advantageous a1; times 1:0 adjust this handle 130 extend obliquely, as illus-- trated in Fig'. 2. This is accomplished by providing the inner end of the handle with a spherica1 portion B fitting Within a corresponding recess in the outer end of the socket member D and pivotally attached thereto as by the pins B K is a locking holt located Within a recess in the spherical portion B and adapted engage alternatively With a plurality of keeper recesses K in the socket member D. The holt is yieldably pressed outvvard by a spring L and may be retracted by a shank member L extending through an axial recess in the handle B and provided With an actuating button 01 knob L at its outer end Which is between furcations of the pul1 grip C.

With the constructin as thus far described, in use the jaw member A is detached, and the jaw member A is first manipulated by the handle B. The jaw member A may then be separately placed in position on the opposite side of the head of the fetus, alter which the shank E may be inserted in the Socket D and automatically locked therein by the labch member F. 'I'his will attach both of the jaw members to the handle B so that they may be simultaneously manipulated by this handle. During this manipulation it may be advantageous adjust the handle into an angular position, which may be accomplished by pulling on the knob L to disengage the holt K from its keeper recess, adjusting to the desired position, and relocking. When in this angular position, the handle forms, in eflect, a crank handle Which facilitates the rotation or other manipulation of the jaws.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified construction adapted to space the jaws A and A in difierent relations to each other. For this purpose, I preferably attach the jaw member A to its shank E by a pivot M and also provide a segmental series of ratchet teeth M on the jaw concentric With this pivot. These teeth are engaged by a dog N pivoted at N and yieldably pressed into engagement With the teeth M by a spring N The arrangement is such that the jaw A is free to be moved inward or toward the jaw A, the

- ratchet teeth successively engaging the dog N, but the jaw is locked against; outward movein the socket forms a means of disengaging the 55 ment by thiS Th1lS aftel' 17118 jaws are properly positiohed in engag ment with the head, they are substantially rigid With the handle.

It will be observed that the instrument is of a simple, smooth contour, with no lateral projections to obstruct its manipulation.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Obstetrical forceps comprising a pair of divergent jaw members, each provided with a. relatively short shank, said shanks having a common longitudinal axis extending between said divergent jaws, a cylindrical socket in which said shanks are secured, a handle connected to the ouber end of said socket extending rearward therefrom and to be adjustable into a, plurality of angular positiong relative thereto, and means for locking said handle to be rigid with said socket in each position of adjustment 2. Obstetrical forceps comprising a. pair of divergent jaw members, each provided with a relatively short shank semi-cylindrical in cross section arranged on opposite sides of a common axis, a cylindrical socket member with which said shanks am engaged, one being permanently attached thereto and the other detachable, a latch member for automatically locking said detachable shank member in its socket, and a handle extending outward from said socket provided with a pull grip at its outer end.

3. Obstetrical forceps comprising a pair of divergent jaw members, each provided with a relatively short shank semi-cylindrical in cross section arranged on opposite sides of a common axis, a, cylindrical socket member with which said shanks re engaged, one being permanently secured and the other telescopically attachable and detachable, a handle pivotally attached to the outer end of said socket to extend rearward therefrom and to be adjustable in difl:'erent angular positions relative thereto, locking means for holding said handle rigid with said socket in each of its adjusted positions, a bifurcated pull grip at the outer end of said handle, and means for disengaging said locking means located between the furcations of said pull grip.

HARRY M. KIRSCHBAUM. 

